SOCIAL welfare schemes for tens of thousands of Bahrainis cost the government BD385 million a year, it was revealed.
This means 11 per cent of the government’s annual expenditure goes towards the country’s social welfare system, which provides financial assistance to Bahraini individuals and families in need.
Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel Humaidan discussed the figures yesterday as he launched the new unified payment system, which will ensure that government financial aid will be distributed on the 15th of every month.
He detailed that around 121,000 Bahrainis receive anti-inflation allowance of BD100, BD70 and BD50 depending on their monthly income at a cap of BD1,000, with the total cost reaching BD128m annually.
A total of 16,486 Bahrainis also benefit from social welfare at a cost of BD21m annually, with an individual receiving BD70 and a couple receiving BD120, while extra payments of BD25 are made per additional family member.
A total of 11,530 Bahrainis with disability also receive BD100 a month at an annual cost of BD19m.
The social welfare schemes also include meat allowance dispensed since subsidies were lifted in 2016, with 162,000 Bahrainis receiving direct payments at a cost of BD28m annually.
Breadwinners receive BD5 a month, children above 15 receive BD3.500 and children below that age receive BD2.500.
Around 46,000 families also benefit from a BD100 monthly housing allowance at a cost of BD57m annually.
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The new payments system was launched during a Press briefing held at the Labour and Social Development Ministry headquarters at the Bahrain Financial Harbour.
However, Mr Humaidan said the only exception would be the pensioners’ allowance given to 78,000 people at an annual cost of BD132m, which will continue to be transferred on the 20th of every month.
The new system means that the ministry will now handle all six social welfare allowances on behalf of other government bodies.
Mr Humaidan explained that citizens would be able to check on the eligibility and progress of social welfare schemes through the new system, which can be accessed online or through machines to be installed at various points in the country.
He also said the ministry’s partner, Silah Gulf, plans to recruit new employees to handle phone calls involving queries about the schemes that will be directed to the government hotline, 80008001.
“This will come as all government welfare payments will be unified for a monthly payment on the 15th rather than being scattered throughout the month,” he said,
“The payments will also be made available through one entry on www.bahrain.bh as any online service.
“This will make it easier for people to manage their finances through a one-off payment, while the pensioners allowance will be paid with pensions on the 20th.”
Mr Humaidan stressed that the payments will not be altered and that eligible individuals and families will not be removed from the lists.
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“At one point we were negotiating with legislators about a restructure, but that’s over,” he said.
“Payments have remained the same as they are and whatever is given won’t be affected, as we spend BD385m annually on all schemes.
“There will be no delays in transferring the money to accounts of thousands of beneficiaries.”
The minister revealed that the second phase of the project would involve establishing a database, which will allow proper analysis and calculation of social welfare allowances.
“We will have an exact number of beneficiaries as we would be the only party handling everything on behalf of others,” he said.
“So, this will enable us to have realistic statistics, analysis and even calculate average income of families through a unified database.
“Social and community societies will also have access to the payments system, and the database when it is ready, should they want to help families in need.
“We will not interfere and have not interfered with their management of donations and distributions – they can seek help on running their affairs that’s all.”
The new payments system can be accessed from today through www.bahrain.bh.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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